5 Reasons why Jon Moxley is the best member of The Shield
Jon Moxley's influence on pro wrestling will be remembered for ages. Following years of struggle on the indie circuit, The Purveyor of Violence got his big break when he joined The Shield in 2012.
Originally brought in as CM Punk's mercenaries, the group soon established itself as the hottest act of the modern era, with all three members carving out successful individual careers.
While Roman Reigns and Seth 'Freakin' Rollins became two of WWE's most valuable superstars, Moxley however, left the company in 2019 after a memorable seven-year-long stint on the main roster. The Death Rider then proceeded to sign with All Elite Wrestling, which continues to be his home to this day.
Jon Moxley's career has seen a resurgence since his debut in Tony Khan’s promotion. Once relegated to the mid-card, Moxley's post-WWE endeavors only strengthened his case of being the best member of The Shield.
In this article, let's take a look at five reasons why Jon Moxley may be the best member of the greatest WWE trio of the modern era.
#5. Jon Moxley has found success outside the realm of WWE
While Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins have been stellar performers in WWE, the duo's success is limited to the realm of the Stamford-based wrestling juggernaut. Although The Architect did have a long stint in the indies before his WWE debut, he has arguably enjoyed his best years under the WWE banner.
On the other hand, Jon Moxley has constantly challenged himself to step out of his comfort zone since his AEW debut. In the last five years, Roman Reigns has adopted a part-time schedule, with his limited appearances helping him to preserve the hype around his character.
While Seth Rollins has constantly strived to be a workhorse in WWE, Jon Moxley's insane work ethic overshadows The Visionary by a long shot. Despite having a locked-in main event spot in AEW, Moxley has never shied away from testing his limits on the indie circuit.
The former AEW World Champion is also one of the most respected foreign names in the Japanese wrestling market, something Reigns and Rollins are unlikely to achieve in their illustrious careers.
Despite a more hectic schedule than his fellow Shield members, The Death Rider has managed to retain his aura, which gives him an edge over both Reigns and Rollins.
#4. Jon Moxley has a more impressive title collection than his Shield brothers
Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Jon Moxley are among the very few WWE Grand Slam Champions of the modern era.
The Visionary has also tasted gold during his ROH days, while Reigns has only won championships in the Stamford-based promotion. In terms of title wins, Jon Moxley has a considerable lead over his former stablemates.
Apart from his accolades in WWE, The Purveyor of Violence has captured the AEW World Championship three times, the AEW International Championship once, and has won three titles in NJPW, including the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship that he currently holds.
The Ace of AEW has also collected championships in several indie promotions around the world. If Reigns and Rollins were to leave WWE today, it would take them years to match Moxley's incredible title collection.
#3. Jon Moxley is a better overall performer
All three members of The Shield bring something unique to the table. While The Tribal Chief currently possesses exceptional promo skills, his in-ring exploits are still not on the level of his fellow Shield members.
A proficient in-ring performer, Seth Rollins still has a few issues in his promo game, despite the drastic improvement he has shown over the years. Meanwhile, Jon Moxley has proven to be a total package throughout his wrestling career. A gifted talent on the microphone, Moxley's exceptional match resume post-WWE puts him ahead of The Visionary and The Tribal Chief.
The Blackpool Combat Club member has consistently delivered one classic after another, while also maintaining his high quality on the microphone. Jon Moxley has proven to be an overall performer throughout his career, which has helped him develop a genuine connection with the audience.
#2. Moxley's ability to play both heel and babyface roles is best in the iconic trio
A wrestler's versatility is judged by his ability to excel both as a heel and a face. Names like The Rock, The Undertaker, and CM Punk are well known for their ability to effectively switch characters as per the demand of the storyline.
Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns have found themselves more comfortable playing the bad guy throughout their careers. Roman Reigns' failed run as a babyface is well-documented.
Before embracing the Tribal Chief persona, Reigns had an extended run as a good guy for seven years, which left a lot to be desired. Seth Rollins too has blown hot and cold as a babyface.
After his Universal Championship win in 2019, The Beastslayer quickly lost the support of the WWE Universe, who had gotten tired of his bland and one-dimensional babyface persona.
When it comes to playing a hero and a villain equally well, Jon Moxley has shown an impressive range. After his poorly booked heel run in WWE, the unhinged superstar displayed his potential as a heel in All Elite Wrestling.
With his rivalry against a beloved Kenny Omega, Moxley confirmed to the wrestling world that he could hang with the best superstars in the world. His exploits as a villain in NJPW further cemented Moxley's ability to play an antagonist.
As far as being a good babyface, Moxley has retained the support he got as a babyface in WWE in AEW as well. Whenever the promotion has found itself in trouble, The Purveyor of Violence has emerged as a ray of hope for AEW and its audience.
#1. The Death Rider is more valuable to his respective promotion
As important as they are, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns are not irreplaceable for WWE. During their periods of absence, WWE has continued to put out a great product. Despite the duo currently being on a hiatus, WWE is still firing on all cylinders.
The same could not be said about Jon Moxley, who has established himself as the most vital cog in AEW's programming. Whenever the company has gone through a difficult period, Tony Khan has called upon Jon Moxley to help AEW weather the storm.
Since his arrival, the former AEW World Champion has been the glue that holds AEW together. The Cincinnati native is AEW's most valuable asset, who has carried the promotion on his back for five years.
Thus is it safe to say that Jon Moxley was the best member of The Shield.